Betty Molacek, 100, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Monday, February 9, 2026 at Emerald Nursing & Rehab in Columbus.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, February 13, at St. Luke's United Church of Christ with Rev. Adam Lassen officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue Friday, from 9:30 AM until service time, at the church. Interment will be on Friday, at 1:30 PM, in Leigh Cemetery in Leigh, Nebraska. Memorials may be directed to Leigh Cemetery, Leigh Auxiliary Unit, Sucha Post 302, or St. Luke's United Church of Christ.

Betty Lou Molacek was born on July 12, 1925, to William and Mary Jane (Wainscott) Buckendahl at Stanton, Nebraska. She grew up on the family farm south of Stanton, the youngest of six children.

Betty was baptized and confirmed at the New England Congregational Church in Stanton. She attended rural school district 34 in the Clay Hill Community near her home and graduated from Stanton High School in 1943. She attended summer school at Wayne State Teacher's College, and taught school at a rural school district two miles east of Stanton for three years. She also was a nurse's aide in Norfolk prior to being married.

On May 9, 1947, Betty and Randolph (Randy) Molacek were united in marriage at the Congregational Church in Stanton. Together they farmed south of Leigh and raised their two daughters, Bonnie and Jolene. In 1974 they moved into Leigh. Betty then worked part-time at Don's Tru Value and gift store for 25 years. After the death of her husband in 2002, Betty moved to Columbus, in 2004, to be near family.

Betty was an active member of the Leigh Congregation Church and in Ladies Guild, where she served in various Church and Guild positions. After the closing of her Leigh church in 2005, she became a member of St. Luke's United Church of Christ in Columbus. She was a member of the Leigh Auxiliary Unit, Sucha Post 302 for many years.

Betty is survived by:
Daughter: Bonnie (Bob) Bierman of Columbus, NE
Grandchildren: Brian (Becky) Bierman, Jaime (Ryan) Cummings, & Hollie (Taylor) Kelley
Great grandchildren: Jackson, Jenna, Tyrian, Brayden, Jayden, & Savanna
Daughter: Jolene (Rich) Wurdeman of Bennington, NE
Grandchildren: Shane (Asha) Wurdeman, Sara (Mike) Keiser, & Jordan (Carmen) Wurdeman
Great grandchildren: Uma, Vik, Scarlett, & Oliver
Many nieces & nephews

Betty was preceded in death by:
Parents: William and Mary Jane Buckendahl
Husband: Randy Molacek
Great granddaughter: Mariah Cummings
Brother: Lloyd Buckendahl
Brother: William (Anne) Buckendahl Jr.
Sister: Dorothy (Jim) Kirkpatrick
Sister: Phyllis (Harlan "Bud") Spath
Sister: Arlene (Warren) Spath
Brother-in-law: Joe (JoAnn) Molacek
Sister-in-law: Palma (Bud) Schwartz
Sister-in-law: Adella (Bob) Schutt
Brother-in-law: Lloyd (Katherine) Molacek